EGYPTIAN TOMBS

For the ancient Egyptians, death meant the beginning of a new state of existence. Specific preparations were necessary since all that was required and desired in this life would play a role in the afterlife. Consequently, real or model versions of important objects and food were provided for the deceased in their tombs. In addition, it was necessary that the body of the deceased be preserved or mummified so that the ka could reunite with the body. The ka was that aspect of the soul that represented the life force within a person and was represented pictorially as a person’s double.

During the New Kingdom, the kings’ burial chambers were carved into the limestone cliffs across from Thebes, on the west bank of the Nile, in the land of the setting sun. Although most tombs in the Valley of the Kings (the main royal cemetery), were plundered by ancient grave robbers, archaeologists have discovered royal tombs with elaborate ensembles of funerary materials. Many of these items were crafted from gold –the “flesh of the gods” – understood as a symbol of eternity because its luminous surface did not tarnish or chip. The body of the deceased, preserved through mummification, was further protected by mummy masks, finger and toe covers, and finally by a series of coffins.

In addition to the physical protection of the body, the Egyptian royals were provided with divine protection and basic provisions. Images of deities, amulets and jewelry, often inscribed with funerary texts, were buried with the king and members of his family. These objects were thought to provide magical power that facilitated rebirth. Royal tombs were also equipped with practical accessories such as clothing, cosmetics and furniture because that the afterlife was considered a real, physical realm in which everyday items were necessary. These useful objects were decorated with religious scenes, texts and symbols that invested the deceased with magical powers.

Egyptian nobles also carved their tombs in the hillsides west of Thebes, near the Valley of the Kings.  Their tombs were filled with expensive burial goods including coffins, sarcophagi, magical figurines, beaded clothing, furniture, and even food offerings – demonstrating that the nobles adhered to the same funerary beliefs as the king.